States with the best and worst well-being for residents

For the sixth year, the pollsters at Gallup teamed with the health advocates at Healthways to find the nation's best and worst states in terms of residents' overall well-being. Factors worked into the overall "Well Being Index" included physical and emotional health, financial security and other social and community factors.

By John Boyd

on February 20, 2014 6:22 PM

Photo: Loungepark, Getty Images

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The Top Ten Worst & Best

Here are the Top Ten worst and best of the bunch states in terms of wellness.

Here are the Top Ten worst and best of the bunch states in terms... Photo-5917269.80432 - Times Union

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#50 - West Virginia

Last Year: 50

#50 - West Virginia

Last Year: 50

Photo: VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm, Getty Images

#50 - West Virginia Last Year: 50 Photo-5917270.80432 - Times Union

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#49 - Kentucky

Last Year: 49

#49 - Kentucky

Last Year: 49

Photo: Joe McNally, Joe McNally/Getty Images

#49 - Kentucky Last Year: 49 Photo-5917271.80432 - Times Union

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#48 - Mississippi

Last Year: 48

#48 - Mississippi

Last Year: 48

Photo: Fuse, Getty Images/Fuse

#48 - Mississippi Last Year: 48 Photo-5917272.80432 - Times Union

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#47 - Alabama

Last Year: 45

#47 - Alabama

Last Year: 45

Photo: Joseph McNally, Getty Images

#47 - Alabama Last Year: 45 Photo-5917273.80432 - Times Union

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#46 - Ohio

Last Year: 44

#46 - Ohio

Last Year: 44

Photo: Richard Cummins, Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

#46 - Ohio Last Year: 44 Photo-5917274.80432 - Times Union

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#45 - Arkansas

Last Year: 46

#45 - Arkansas

Last Year: 46

Photo: Henryk Sadura, Getty Images/Tetra Images RF

#45 - Arkansas Last Year: 46 Photo-5917275.80432 - Times Union

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#44 - Tennessee

Last Year: 47

#44 - Tennessee

Last Year: 47

Photo: Matthew D White, Getty Images

#44 - Tennessee Last Year: 47 Photo-5917276.80432 - Times Union

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#43 - Missouri

Last Year: 38

#43 - Missouri

Last Year: 38

Photo: Tetra Images - Henryk Sadura, Getty Images/Brand X

#43 - Missouri Last Year: 38 Photo-5917277.80432 - Times Union

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#42 - Oklahoma

Last Year: 41

#42 - Oklahoma

Last Year: 41

Photo: John Elk, Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

#42 - Oklahoma Last Year: 41 Photo-5917278.80432 - Times Union

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#41 - Louisiana

Last Year: 43

#41 - Louisiana

Last Year: 43

Photo: John Elk, Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

#41 - Louisiana Last Year: 43 Photo-5917279.80432 - Times Union

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#10 - Iowa

Last Year: 9

#10 - Iowa

Last Year: 9

Photo: Phil Roeder, Getty Images/Flickr RF

#10 - Iowa Last Year: 9 Photo-5917280.80432 - Times Union

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#9 – Washington

Last Year: 15

#9 – Washington

Last Year: 15

Photo: Spaces Images, Getty Images/Blend Images

#9 – Washington Last Year: 15 Photo-5917281.80432 - Times Union

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#8 - Hawaii

Last Year: 1

#8 - Hawaii

Last Year: 1

Photo: 316347, Getty Images/Flickr RF

#8 - Hawaii Last Year: 1 Photo-5917282.80432 - Times Union

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#7 - Colorado

Last Year: 2

#7 - Colorado

Last Year: 2

Photo: Melissa McManus, Getty Images

#7 - Colorado Last Year: 2 Photo-5917283.80432 - Times Union

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#6 - Vermont

Last Year: 5

#6 - Vermont

Last Year: 5

Photo: Fotosearch, Getty Images/Fotosearch RF

#6 - Vermont Last Year: 5 Photo-5917284.80432 - Times Union

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#5 - Montana

Last Year: 6

#5 - Montana

Last Year: 6

Photo: Witold Skrypczak, Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

#5 - Montana Last Year: 6 Photo-5917285.80432 - Times Union

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#4 - Minnesota

Last Year: 3

#4 - Minnesota

Last Year: 3

Photo: Luiz Felipe Castro, Getty Images/Flickr RM

#4 - Minnesota Last Year: 3 Photo-5917286.80432 - Times Union

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#3 - Nebraska

Last Year: 7

#3 - Nebraska

Last Year: 7

Photo: Danita Delimont, Getty Images/Gallo Images

#3 - Nebraska Last Year: 7 Photo-5917287.80432 - Times Union

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#2 - South Dakota

Last Year: 12

#2 - South Dakota

Last Year: 12

Photo: Nivek Neslo, Getty Images

#2 - South Dakota Last Year: 12 Photo-5917288.80432 - Times Union

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#1 - North Dakota

Last Year: 19

#1 - North Dakota

Last Year: 19

Photo: Richard Cummins/ Robert Harding

#1 - North Dakota Last Year: 19 Photo-5917289.80432 - Times Union

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Overall Trends

States in the Deep South fared poorly on the Well-Being Index while states in the Great Plains fared the best. Texas finished about middle of the pack, ranked No. 21 – a slight improvement from No. 27 in each of the past two years. less

Overall Trends

States in the Deep South fared poorly on the Well-Being Index while states in the Great Plains fared the best. Texas finished about middle of the pack, ranked No. 21 – a slight improvement from ... more

Photo: Healthways

Overall Trends States in the Deep South fared poorly on the... Photo-5917290.80432 - Times Union